The Director-General of the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs has accepted the findings of the Public Service Commission review of staff conduct arising from the Mason Lee case.
Deidre Mulkerin (pictured) said that since the death of the Caboolture toddler in 2016, the Department had made extensive changes to the way it did things.
“These improvements include boosting funding for non-government services to at-risk families in high-need locations and legislating to strengthen information-sharing between Agencies,” Ms Mulkerin said.
She said the Department had also increased its front-line staff, including the employment of dedicated Child Safety Officers to work with Hospital and Health Services.
A new Morayfield Child Safety Service Centre had been established with an Indigenous Family Wellbeing service.
“We have also made changes to improve the training and supervision of staff,” Ms Mulkerin said.
“In June 2020, the Queensland Government accepted all six recommendations made by the Deputy State Coroner following the inquest into Mason Lee’s death.”
She said three of the six recommendations were completed and the remainder were under way.
“We are actively reviewing the current plans for all children under three years old in our care to ensure they are in the best possible arrangements,” the Director-General said.
“Since joining the department in February 2020, I have witnessed the dedication of our front-line child protection workers,” she said.
“I am determined to play my part in leading the child protection system throughout Queensland to support families and communities to keep children safe,” Ms Mulkerin said.
